Concept of organic farming appears to be fast catching up with the farming community in the State.
This is the impression one draws from the large number of farmers from various districts in the State, flocking to the stalls displaying different varieties of organically grown agricultural produces, at the 42nd Krishi Mela at the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra in Bangalore on Friday.
Of the total 450 stalls, more than 50 stalls are exclusively meant for organic products.
Among the various agricultural produces on display are rice, puffed rice, ragi, jowar etc. Different types of fruits and vegetables, seeds, manure, pesticide, etc are also being displayed.
The ISKCON has put up a stall to enrol farmers for training in organic as well as bio-dynamic system of farming, under the aegis of ECO Agro Reseach Foundation.
K M Sharanaiah from Mutigarhalli in Molakalmur taluk, who is an advisor to an NGO, said, Molakalmur taluk can be rightly called the first organic farming taluk in the State. Nieghbouring taluks of Hiriyur and Davanagere have also made a lot of progress. The government’s new scheme, launched last year, to spread awareness about organic farming system in each taluk is said to have made good impact on farmers.
The government has launched the scheme under which an NGO would be allotted 100 hectare land and some funds to practise organic farming in each taluk so that farmers can take up farming in their lands also. Some stalls have been put up to explain the concept to farmers. 
A single organic item which was sold like hot cake at the exhibition was “ajola”. A fungus, ajola can be grown in water at house; the technique is very simple. It is said to be highly nutrtious food for milching cows. Some items such as soap, candle, honey etc were also in good demand.
Earlier, speaking at the inaugural function, Director General of ICRISAT Dr William Dhar underscored the need to improve agriculture productivity in the country to get farmers out of poverty. This was possible with the introduction of new varieties of seeds as well as new techniques of farming.
Referring to the contribution of ICRISAT, Dr Dhar due to its research efforts, the productivity of paddy has shot up from one tonne per acre to five tonnes per acre.
Principal Secretary to Department of Agriculture and Horticulture A Ramaswamy said soon he would write a letter to the Centre seeking sanctioning of Rs 100 crore financial assistance to the two agriculture universities in the State on the lines of grants released to the agriculture university at Chennai.


A LA PRAGATI MAIDAN


Permanent expo ground at GKVK
The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, proposes to set up permanent exhibition stalls at its main campus here on the lines of exhibition ground at Pragathi Maidan in New Delhi.
Vice-Chancellor of UAS Dr P G Chengappa informed on Friday that the exhibition stalls would be developed on 13-acre land in GKVK campus where the Krishi Mela is being held now. “The idea is to rent out the stalls for exhibition by outside agencies besides conducting our own exhibition during krishi mela,“ he added. The UAS has already consulted an architect in this regard.
Dr Chengappa said that an international standard convention centre, for which Governor Rameshwar Thakur laid the foundation stone on Friday, would be built at a cost of Rs 18 crore. “Rs 12 crore has been provided in this year’s budget and the remaining Rs 8 crore would be provided next year. Already the tender has been awarded,” he added.
The convention centre, modelled on the lines of the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, would have the state-of-the-art technology with a seating capacity of 3,000 people. The centre would be completed in two years. “Besides holding our convocation, programmes by government departments such as agriculture, horticulture would also be allowed here,” he added.